Madeline Brooks
Office in Hashima City, Gifu Prefecture, surrounded by a calm rural landscape of rice fields. On our first visit, the sight of rice ears swaying in the wind descending from the nearby mountains left a strong impression.
This project was commissioned as a new headquarters for a company engaged in civil engineering and real estate. The client sought a building that would be rooted in the community and appreciated for many years. Through our design process, we came to believe that the essence of this project lies in drawing out the value hidden in the “everyday landscape” surrounding the site.
The shifting path of the sun across the seasons, the movement of rice and grasses in the wind, or the ripples forming on the water of the rice fields in the rain—these ordinary scenes hold quiet beauty. Creating opportunities to notice such beauty, we felt, was the most appropriate role for the new office of a company deeply connected to the land and to civil engineering. Rather than simply blending the building into the environment, our intention was to design an architectural “device” that would make people more aware of these values through its presence.
The roof is the building’s most distinctive feature. It rises dramatically toward the east, cutting a bold profile against the sky, while its eaves descend close to the ground. A gentle undulation in the roofline introduces a subtle irregularity, highlighting the reflected light, the color of the sky, and the movement of raindrops—bringing natural phenomena into focus and enhancing the charm of the surroundings.
Inside, the spatial organization is conceived to connect with the exterior. Beneath the raised roof, a tall space houses the entrance and meeting rooms, naturally drawing the outside in. Courtyards and verandas are placed beneath the undulating roof to create intermediate spaces that mediate between inside and outside. Small margins and resting places are arranged throughout the building and site, where stones and greenery are incorporated into the interiors, producing a sense of continuity with nature even while indoors.
This environment supports a variety of activities—meetings, breaks, or simply moments of noticing the changing seasons. On the south side, large openings are combined with low eaves, balancing sunlight control with an intimate relationship to the garden. Wind, light, and other elements of nature are softly drawn into the space.
Through this architectural “device,” we hope to create moments that make people aware of the beauty of the landscape, allowing both residents and visitors to carry with them the memory of “a new everyday scenery” rooted in this place.
Project Info:
- Architects: Atelier Nagara Architectural Design Office, PERMANENT Co., Ltd.
- Country: Japan, Hashima
- Year: 2025
- Area: 302 m²
- Photographs: Kenta Hasegawa
- Office Lead Architects: Kazuo Hara (PERMANENT), Masaki Takeuchi (PERMANENT), Takuya Iwata (Atelier Nagara)
Tags: 2025Atelier Nagara Architectural Design OfficeJapanKenta HasegawaLtd.Office in HashimaPERMANENT Co.
Madeline Brooks
Madeline Brooks is a Projects Editor at Arch2O, where she has been shaping and refining architectural content since March 2024. With over a decade of experience in editorial work, she has curated, revised, and published an array of projects covering architecture, urbanism, and public space design. A graduate of the Harvard University Graduate School of Design, Madeline brings a strong academic foundation and a discerning editorial eye to each piece she oversees. Since joining Arch2O, she has played a pivotal role in shaping the platform’s editorial direction, with a focus on sustainability, social relevance, and cutting-edge design. Madeline excels at translating complex architectural ideas into clear, engaging stories that resonate with both industry professionals and general readers. She works closely with architects, designers, and global contributors to ensure every project is presented with clarity, depth, and compelling visual narrative. Her editorial leadership continues to elevate Arch2O’s role in global architectural dialogue.
